News and Press Releases

College to Host Seminar on 'Crowdfunding'

Talk Aims to Teach Small and Mid-sized Businesses How to Attract Investors

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2012) — Three national experts on crowdfunding — a new method of raising money for small, growing businesses — will present a seminar from 5 to 7:45 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the SUNY Plattsburgh’s Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center.

Headlining the event are David Drake, chairman of LDJ Capital and founder of The Soho Loft Capital Creation Event Series; Enzo Villani, CEO of Villani Advisors and a professor in the college’s Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship; and Christine Landon, founder and CEO of WebFinancial LLC (www.webfinancial.com), a crowdfunding-based financial system startup.

The seminar will cover the basics of crowdfunding and explain how to benefit from the Jumpstart our Business Startups — or JOBS — Act, which was signed by President Obama in April 2012.

During the seminar, the latest developments in crowdfunding, specifically what it means for entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists, will be tackled. Attendees will learn how to take advantage of the opportunities created by the new law to help grow and expand their businesses in the North Country and around the world.

“Our expertise is in helping small and medium-sized enterprises and startups find capital formation solutions,” said Drake, one of the founding members of CrowdFund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates and Crowdfund Professional Association. Drake frequently shares his knowledge on “crowdfunding best practices” in the United States and abroad.

“Crowdfunding is changing the capital formation process all around the world,” according to Villani, the newest faculty member in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at SUNY Plattsburgh. “If our business students at SUNY Plattsburgh are to succeed in their entrepreneurial pursuits, they need to enter the business world armed with knowledge of the newest sources of capital — crowdfunding and crowdsourcing.”

“We are excited to have such high-powered, distinguished guest speakers visit the campus, and we hope that members of the business community will take the opportunity to join us,” said Dr. Nancy J. Church, chair of the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship in the college’s School of Business and Economics. “As the only SUNY school that offers a B.S. in entrepreneurship, we want to offer cutting-edge and relevant programs that will help our students and local entrepreneurs discover ways to raise capital and follow their dreams.”

The program is open to the campus and to the general public. Admission is $25 for the general public and free for all college students. Pizza and soft drinks will be served. All proceeds go to the Plattsburgh College Foundation to benefit entrepreneurship and marketing student activities. For reservations and more information, call Church at 518-564-4169 or email her at churchnj@plattsburgh.edu.

The presentation is co-sponsored by SUNY Plattsburgh's Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship and the college's North Country Small Business Development Center.